"So, what exactly does the Civil Air Patrol do??" As you can imagine we get asked this question a lot. People see members wearing uniforms similar to the U.S. Air Force (USAF), so they often make the connection that we're a part of the USAF family, after all CAP has been a part of the Air Force team since 1943 when CAP was transferred from the Office of Civilian Defense to the Department of War-under the jurisdiction of the US Army Air Forces. Incidentally CAP became a part of the USAF Total Force in 2015!
But still, there is often confusion as to what we do. How do we help the Air Force? Our nation? Our community? What would members be able to do in CAP?
CAP has three main missions:
- Emergency Services
- Cadet Programs
- Aerospace Education
According to the CAP website www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com here is what falls under "Emergency Services."
"Growing from its World War II experience, the Civil Air Patrol has continued to save lives and alleviate human suffering through a myriad of emergency-services and operational missions.
Search and Rescue
Perhaps best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, CAP flies more than 85 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fl. Outside the continental United States, CAP supports the Joint Rescue Coordination Centers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Just how effective are the CAP missions? Approximately 75-100 people are saved each year by CAP members.
Disaster Relief
Another important service CAP performs is disaster-relief operations. CAP provides air and ground transportation and an extensive communications network. Volunteer members fly disaster-relief officials to remote locations and provide manpower and leadership to local, state and national disaster-relief organizations. CAP has formal agreements with many government and humanitarian relief agencies including the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Humanitarian Services
CAP flies humanitarian missions, usually in support of the Red Cross-transporting time-sensitive medical materials including blood and human tissue, in situations where other means of transportation are not available.
Air Force Support
It's hardly surprising that CAP performs several missions in direct support of the U.S. Air Force. Specifically, CAP conducts light transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys. CAP also provides orientation flights for AFROTC cadets. Joint U.S. Air Force and CAP search-and-rescue exercises provide realistic training for missions.
CounterdrugCAP joined the "war on drugs" in 1986 when, pursuant to congressional authorization, CAP signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Customs Service offering CAP resources to help stem the flow of drugs into and within the United States."
What can YOU do in CAP? We invite you find out by visiting one of our meetings! For more information on Squadron 150 meeting location and time please click here.